John Thune Blasts Kamala Harris For 'Especially Disturbing' Move To Skip Benjamin Netanyahu's Speech

2 months ago

During a Senate GOP press briefing, Sen. John Thune (R-SD) denounced VP Kamala Harris' decision to not attend Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint session of Congress.

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Transcript

00:00The podium is yours.

00:01Thank you, Senator Ernst, for leading this.

00:03Today, the US Congress will hear from Prime Minister Benjamin

00:09Netanyahu in what is a critically important address.

00:13And I have to say that I'm anxious to hear,

00:17I think like a lot of my Republican colleagues are,

00:20about what Israel needs to be able to defend itself

00:23and succeed against the terrorist threats

00:26that it literally faces on all sides.

00:29One thing it needs, one thing it needs is for the United States

00:33to have its back.

00:35Israel needs a reliable American ally,

00:40which is why it is so disappointing,

00:42I would say more than disappointing, disturbing,

00:45that there are so many Democrats who

00:47are going to boycott the address this afternoon.

00:51And it's especially disturbing that Vice President Harris

00:56has opted not to preside over this event.

01:00She felt comfortable presiding over the worst, as borders are,

01:04the worst border crisis that we've seen in our history.

01:08She was comfortable presiding over the passage

01:11of the reckless tax and spending spree, the so-called Inflation

01:15Reduction Act, and numerous other nominations that

01:19have come across the Senate floor.

01:21And yet here we have our greatest ally

01:24in the Middle East and a crucial security partner

01:27coming and testifying or speaking to the United States

01:30Congress.

01:31And she can't be there to preside over this important meeting.

01:35So I can tell you one thing, that the Republicans are

01:38going to be there in force.

01:40We will be expressing our support for our ally Israel.

01:44And in light of what happened on October 7th

01:47and everything that's happened since, now more than ever,

01:50the US and what used to be a bipartisan majority here

01:55in the United States Congress needs to stand behind Israel.

01:59But I can assure you one thing, and that

02:01is the Republicans here in the House and Senate

02:03will be doing that, not only this afternoon when we listen

02:06to the Prime Minister, but when it

02:08comes to delivering on the important assistance

02:12that this relationship and this partnership

02:14requires in order for Israel to survive

02:17in a very, very dangerous world.

John Thune Blasts Kamala Harris For 'Especially Disturbing' Move To Skip Benjamin Netanyahu's Speech

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